Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and strong dark greyed purple-colored stems; dark green-colored leaves; large mophead-type inflorescences with light red purple-colored sterile flowers with darker red purple-colored margins and venation; when “blued”, that is, treated with aluminum sulfate, sterile flowers are light violet blue in color; long flowering period; and good postproduction quality and longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aarslev, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new container-type Hydrangea plants with strong stems, early flowering response and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Hydrangea plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SchrollA17’, not patented. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2017 as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘SchrollA17’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aarslev, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings in Aarslev, Denmark since 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and strong and dark greyed         purple-colored stems.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Large mophead-type inflorescences with light red         purple-colored sterile flowers with darker red purple-colored         margins and venation; when “blued”, that is, treated with         aluminum sulfate, sterile flowers are light violet blue in         color.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Good postproduction quality and longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘SchrollA17’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as vigorous as plants of         ‘SchrollA17’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘SchrollA17’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more dense         than inflorescences of plants of ‘SchrollA17’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘SchrollA17’ differ in         sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new         Hydrangea are light red purple in color with darker red         purple-colored margins and venation whereas sterile flowers of         plants of ‘SchrollA17’ are soft pink in color with less distinct         venation.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H213901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,221. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213901’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the Hydrangea are shorter than and not as vigorous         as plants of ‘H213901’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘H213901’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are larger than         inflorescences of plants of ‘H213901’.     -   4. Sepals of sterile flowers of the new Hydrangea are not as         undulate as sepals of sterile flowers of ‘H213901’.     -   5. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213901’ differ in sterile         flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea         are light red purple in color with darker red purple-colored         margins and venation whereas sterile flower of plants of         ‘H213901’ are dark red purple in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘H213906’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,509. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213906’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are less vigorous than plants of         ‘H213906’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea force faster than plants of         ‘H213906’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213906’ differ in sterile         flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea         are light red purple in color with darker red purple-colored         margins and venation whereas sterile flowers of plants of         ‘H213906’ are dark pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 3) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’ grown in a container that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 3) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’ that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 of 3) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’ grown in a container that has been “blued”.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Aarslev, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched two times and were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea     macrophylla ‘SchrollA17’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 17 to 18 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white, close             to N155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial subshrub; upright and             mounded plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; freely             branching habit with about four to six lateral branches             developing per plant; strong lateral branches; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 35 cm to 45 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12 cm to 14 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm to 7 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 5 cm.             Strength: Strong, sturdy. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing: Close to 61A. Color, developed: Close to N186B.             Color, lenticels: Close to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate; simple.         -   Length.—About 10 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm to 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Attenuate to decurrent.         -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 137B and             139A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, close to 139D. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to between 137B and 138A; venation, close to             139D, proximally tinged with pink.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Inflorescence & flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy single sterile and             inconspicuous single fertile flowers arranged on terminal             mophead-type panicles; panicles hemispherical to slightly             flattened globular in overall shape; fertile flowers face             upright and sterile flowers face upright to outwardly             depending on their position on the inflorescence; early             flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight to nine             weeks after forcing period.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, continuous             flowering from the late summer (August) until frost in             Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—Flowers last about one             month on the plant; fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—Flowers last about 120 to             150 days on the plant; sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit with about 20             fertile flowers and about 60 sterile flowers per panicle.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 18 cm to 20 cm.         -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 7 mm to 8 mm.         -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower shape, fertile flowers.—Spherical.         -   Flower shape, sterile flowers.—Rounded.         -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Shape: Deltoid, valvate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 149D with margins, close to 62A; when             “blued”, close to 149D with margins, close to 95B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 62A with margins, close to             70B, color does not change with development; when “blued”,             close to 97A with margins, close to 96C, with development             becoming closer to 138A to 138C with margins, close to 59B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62A with margins,             close to 70B, color does not change with development; when             “blued”, close to 97A with margins, close to 96C, with             development becoming closer to 141C with venation, close to             59A.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: If             present, four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Rounded to truncate. Margin: Entire to denticulate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 90D; when             “blued”, close to 90B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 62C; when “blued”, close to 91C; color             does not change with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             five in a single whorl; sepals are malformed and vary in             shape and size. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pilose. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: A mixture of close to 145C and             145D with margins and venation, close to N66B; when “blued”,             a mixture of 145A to 145D with margins and venation, close             to 61A and 61B; color does not change with development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: A mixture of close             to 145C and 145D with margins and venation, close to N66B;             when “blued”, a mixture of 145A to 145D with margins and             venation, close to 61A and 61B; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm.             Shape: Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire; apex, occasionally emarginate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             plants not “blued”: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 62D; margins and venation, close to N74A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 62B to 62D; margins and             venation, close to N74A; greenish tinge appears with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 65D;             margins and venation, close to N74A; greenish tinge appears             with development. Color, plants “blued”: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 92C to 92D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 85D; greenish tinge appears with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 98D;             greenish tinge appears with development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright to outwardly. Texture: Pilose. Color: Close to N79A.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from             vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color, plants not “blued”:             Close to 64A. Color, plants “blued”: Close to 71A.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About five. Filament length: About 1 mm to 2 mm.             Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: About three. Pistil length: Less than             1 mm. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color: Close to 155D.             Style length: Less than 1 mm. Style color: Close to 155D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight to ten. Filament length: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther color: Close to 155D.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 4C. Pistils:             To date, pistil development has not been observed on plants             of the new Hydrangea.         -   Seeds (on fertile flowers only).—Quantity: About 30 to 50.             Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color:             Brownish. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL115-13-02’ as illustrated and described. 